North-West. M2 widening could be disastrous

The widening of the M2 between Lane Cove and the Hills district could have a disastrous effect on a public transport route into one of Sydney's booming job centres, transport experts say. As part of a $550 million plan to widen the tollway from four lanes to six, the operator, Transurban, will demolish a bus-only access ramp near Epping station. The ramp is used by more than 60 Hillsbus services a day that transport passengers on the popular 611 service from Blacktown to Macquarie Park, via Epping. Bus patronage from the Hills district has boomed in the past decade, due to a combination of traffic congestion and gradually rising fuel costs.